NationStates Jolt Archive

That's a word that tends to get flung around a lot to justify one thing and its absolute opposite. I was just curious to see how you would define "patriotism". Also, do you consider yourself patriotic? Why? Why not?

And if we could keep this civil, that would be really nice. :)

patriotism

\Pa"tri*ot*ism\, n. [Cf. F. patriotisme.] Love of country; devotion to the welfare of one's country; the virtues and actions of a patriot; the passion which inspires one to serve one's country.

I like dictionaries.

That's a word that tends to get flung around a lot to justify one thing and its absolute opposite. I was just curious to see how you would define "patriotism". Also, do you consider yourself patriotic? Why? Why not?

And if we could keep this civil, that would be really nice. :)

Patriotism is defending your country against the government. So yeah, I try to be patriotic.

Patriotism is defending your country against the government. So yeah, I try to be patriotic.
No, that's paranoia.

Re: Gentopia's dictionary definition.

Hehe... All right, that was a good start. What I actually meant was, everyone seems to hold a different meaning of what the notion involves. No two people would really define it (i.e. what it means to them) the same way.

No, that's paranoia.

Who say's it can't be both? ;)

My personal definition is loving your country more than any other country.

No, that's paranoia.

par·a·noi·a

1.)A psychotic disorder characterized by delusions of persecution with or without grandeur, often strenuously defended with apparent logic and reason.
2.)Extreme, irrational distrust of others.

Distrusting a bunch of people who are crazy, power-hungry, or stupid and are in positions of high authority is hardly irrational.

Who say's it can't be both? ;)
touché

Distrusting a bunch of people who are crazy, power-hungry, or stupid and are in positions of high authority is hardly irrational.
No, but making claims due to paranoia is.

That's a word that tends to get flung around a lot to justify one thing and its absolute opposite. I was just curious to see how you would define "patriotism". Also, do you consider yourself patriotic? Why? Why not?

And if we could keep this civil, that would be really nice. :)


Not actively acting against the interests of your nation.

It takes a lot of work to be un-patriotic, and is a very conscious choice.

"Active Patriotism" would be working to better your country.

I consider myself patriotic.

Nationalism.

My personal definition is loving your country more than any other country.
That's nationalism, isn't it?

To me patriotism is love of ones country, but not necessarily love of ones government.

My personal definition is loving your country more than any other country.
No, that was nationalism, good try sir.

Patriotism standing up for your countries ideals even when you risk harm or humilation. Standing up for your country even when others wouldn't because they risk being labled as other things.
For America our motto is "Truth, honor, and the American way". So you must always try to be truthful to be patriotic. ( thus Swift Boats is not. But I guess that is another debate)
Honor: Must show things honor even when you don't like them. (Same for purple hearts)

So to not question your government is at least not very patriotic and at worst treason.

No, that was nationalism, good try sir.
For America our motto is "Truth, honor, and the American way".

No it isn't...

I would tend to agree that patriotism implies criticising your government if you feel its actions are in some way harmful to the well-being of your country. Thus it would be absurd to call someone who criticises his/her government in the name of loving his country "unpatriotic".

No, but making claims due to paranoia is.

*chuckles* I suppose you're right. Such a thing would be irrational. Noone makes claims simply because of paranoia. If they were truly paranoid, they would too afraid to make the claim because the people who are after them would find out and get them! Thanks for proving I'm not paranoid! You are so helpful! :)

I try.

My definition: The desire to act in the best interests of your country.

US Republican definition: Standing behind the president without question or criticism. OH, btw, the president has to be Republican. If he's not, you may flame without guilt. ;)

Patriotism is where you love your country so much you'll do anything to protect it.

For example, our country is about the Constitution. When I dissent, I get angry when republicans tell me I'm unpatriotic. If they go and study the Constitution (don't worry, reading doesn't hurt your head, republicans ;)), they'll see that, in the First Amendment, you have a freedom of speech and the freedom to protest. When I protest the Iraq War or Dubya, I am a patriot. When someone tells me that dissent is unpatriotic, they themselves are actually being unpatriotic, telling me what I'm doing is unpatriotic.

Patriotism is where you love your country so much you'll do anything to protect it.

For example, our country is about the Constitution. When I dissent, I get angry when republicans tell me I'm unpatriotic. If they go and study the Constitution (don't worry, reading doesn't hurt your head, republicans ;)), they'll see that, in the First Amendment, you have a freedom of speech and the freedom to protest. When I protest the Iraq War or Dubya, I am a patriot. When someone tells me that dissent is unpatriotic, they themselves are actually being unpatriotic, telling me what I'm doing is unpatriotic.
Someone needs to see a certain episode of South Park for a better understanding of this kind of thing.

sinistro is right. thats exactly right...

patriotism is not defending the president just because hes the president, but defending what you think your country stands for and should become.
this way, i guess technically the KKK are being patriotic because theyre defending what they believe in. at least in that respect...

BTW: are there actually any republicans on this site, cuz i never see them...

Fine line in between Nationalism and Patriotism, btw...just make sure you know the difference before posting.

patriotism-A feeling of pride and loyalty towards a country.

^My definition for patriotism.

Heres my two pence (which I often throw in, unwanted ;))

Proud of my country? What have I got to be proud of? I live in the UK, we've had some great people here like Bejamin Britten, Henry Purcell, Shakespeare, Charles Hallé... but to be proud of it? These were outstanding individuals, in my eyes, the country they came from is irrelevant. Anyway, I can't exactly feel "proud" of someone elses achievement when theyre almost completely unconnected to me.

What else can I be proud of? The BNP? The Government who I disagree with? Hell, I can like the people, but I don't need to be *proud* of it.

I don't feel much attatchment to the country itself, my parents were immigrants (Iran and Iraq), my roots aren't in England. But then I don't feel any particular national pride at my parents homelands either.

Meh.

"Nationalism means helping your people in unjust causes" - The Prophet Muhammed

(I am agnostic btw :))

You quite possibly have the greatest name ever

For me, patriotism is the love of one's country and the desire to do good for it, but NOT at the expense of another country's or peoples' well-being.

On the other hand, nationalism has more sinister overtones. To me it contains the good elements of patriotism, but it also carries the sense of superiority of one's country, to the detriment of other countries or races. This can lead to feelings of imperialism and racism.

There is also the separatist aspect to nationalism when applied to a larger federation or union of which part wants to break away. But although it can be viewed as a noble cause, it invariably leads to violence (Northern Irish Republicans vs Great Britain, Basque separatists vs Spain, Chechen rebels vs Russia etc etc).

There is nothing wrong with feeling your own country is superior to others, but not when that feeling causes political or physical harm to others through bigotry and prejudice.

For example - Hitler was not a patriot. He was a nationalist. The patriots at the time could have been people like von Stauffenberg who tried to kill Hitler, with the ultimate aim of negotiating an end to the war, thereby saving any further damage to Germany. This was potentially an act of patriotism, although to the rabid Nazis, von Stauffenberg was not seen as a patriot, but as a traitor.

As a Briton, I love my country and am therefore a patriot. However, I understand that Britain is far from perfect, and would not wish to impose a British way of life on any other country - so I do not count myself as a British nationalist.

:)

Thanks for your thoughts!

BUMPed.